Preoperative functional capacity and postoperative outcomes following abdominal and pelvic cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is clinical uncertainty regarding an association between preoperative functional capacity of cancer patients, and postoperative outcomes. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate whether poor performance on preoperative six-minute walk test (6MWT) or five-times sit to stand test (5STS) is associated with worse postoperative complication rates and prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS) in cancer patients.

METHODS

An electronic search was performed from earliest available record to 26th February 2021 in MEDLINE, Embase and AMED. Studies investigating the association between preoperative physical function (measured using either 6MWT or 5STS) and postoperative outcomes (complications and LOS) in patients with gastrointestinal, abdominal and pelvic cancers were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Where possible, summary odds ratios (OR) or mean differences (MD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effect models.

RESULTS

Five studies (379 patients) were included, of which none utilized the 5STS. Overall, studies were rated as having low to moderate risk of bias. Higher preoperative performance on the 6MWT (≥400 m) was associated with low grade postoperative complications (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.15-0.95) but was not associated with a shorter LOS (MD = 3.29; 95%CI = -1.07-7.66).

CONCLUSION

The available evidence suggests that in cancer patients, a higher preoperative functional capacity may be associated with reduced postoperative complications. Conversely, there is no significant association between preoperative function and LOS. Further high-quality studies are needed in this area, including studies involving 5STS.

Preoperative incremental shuttle walk test for morbidity and mortality prediction in elective major colorectal surgery

Background and Aims:

The incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) is a simple reproducible and non-invasive test for assessing cardiopulmonary function. The maximum oxygen consumption is less than 10 ml/kg/min for ISWT distance of less than 250 m. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ISWT in predicting morbidity and mortality in elective colorectal oncosurgery and to find the correlation of ISWT with the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), Borg dyspnoea score, and peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ max).

Methods:

This prospective study involved 46 patients aged more than 60 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II undergoing elective colorectal surgery under general anaesthesia with an epidural block. ISWT was conducted preoperatively and patients were monitored for 30 days postoperatively. For a comparative analysis, patients were divided into two groups: group 1– who could walk 250 m and group 2 – could not walk 250m. Categorical data were evaluated using the Chi-square test, while continuous data were evaluated using the Student’s t-test. The strength of correlation was determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results:

Postoperative complications (P = 0.001) and lengthy stay in hospital and intensive care unit (P = 0.001) were experienced by all patients who were unable to complete the ISWT distance of 250 m. ISWT distance of 250 m corresponds to a DASI score of 10.5, which is equivalent to a calculated VO₂ max of 14.1ml/kg/min.

Conclusion:

The ISWT with a cutoff distance of 250 m is a reliable predictor of postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing colorectal oncosurgery.

Impact of preoperative 6-minute walk distance on long-term prognosis after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) is a simple way of assessing exercise capacity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative 6MWD and long-term prognosis after esophagectomy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study involved 108 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between 2013 and 2020. The patients were classified into the short group (SG: 6MWD < 480 m) or the long group (LG: 6MWD  ≥  480 m). To adjust for the background characteristics of both groups, propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed and 32 patients were matched from each group. Five-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used to evaluate differences in survival between the groups. After adjusting for other prognostic factors, the Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the impact of preoperative 6MWD on long-term prognosis.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 923 days. Thirty-three deaths were recorded during the study period. After PSM, 5-year OS following surgery was 29.2 and 66.1% (p = 0.003) and 5-year RFS was 27.9 and 58.6% (p  =  0.021) in the SG and LG, respectively. In Cox proportional hazards analysis, the SG was a significant independent risk factor for OS (hazard ratio 3.33; 95% confidence interval 1.37-8.11, p = 0.008) and RFS (hazard ratio 2.30; 95% confidence interval 1.08-4.88, p = 0.030).

CONCLUSION

The preoperative 6MWD is useful for evaluating exercise capacity and predicting the long-term outcome in patients undergoing esophagectomy.

[Surgical treatment of esophageal cancer-Indicators for quality in diagnostics and treatment]

BACKGROUND

Within the framework of the quality initiative of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV) a review article was compiled based on a systematic literature search. Recommendations for the current diagnostics and treatment of esophageal cancer were also elaborated.

METHODS

The systematic literature search was carried out in March 2019 according to the PRISMA criteria using the MEDLINE databank. The recommendations were formulated based on a consensus in the DGAV.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Operations below the currently valid minimum quantity threshold should no longer be carried out. There are many indications that the minimum quantity in Germany should be raised to ≥20 resections/year/hospital in order to comprehensively improve the quality. Prehabilitation programs with endurance, strength and intensive breathing training as well as nutritional therapy improve patient outcome. The current treatment of esophageal cancer is stage-dependent and incorporates endoscopic resection of (sub)mucosal low-risk tumors (T1m1-3 or T1sm1 low risk), primary esophagectomy of submucosal high-risk tumors (T1a), submucosal cancer (T1sm2-3) and T2N0 tumors, multimodal treatment with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or perioperative chemotherapy and operations for advanced stages. Esophagectomy is nowadays carried out in one stage as a so-called hybrid procedure (laparoscopy and muscle-preserving thoracotomy) or as a total minimally invasive operation (laparoscopy and thoracoscopy).

Intra-operative anaesthetic management of older patients undergoing liver surgery

Older patients represent a growing proportion of the general surgical caseload. This includes those undergoing liver resection, with figures rising faster than the rate of population ageing. The physiology of ageing leads to changes in all body systems which may render the provision of safe anaesthesia more challenging than in younger patients. Anaesthesia for liver surgery has specific principles, largely aimed at reducing venous bleeding from the liver, and those related to complex major surgery. This review explores the principles of anaesthesia for liver resection and describes how they may require modification in the older patient. The traditional approach of low central venous pressure anaesthesia in order to reduce bleeding may need to be altered in the presence of a cardiovascular system less able to tolerate hypotension and hypoperfusion. These changes in physiology should also lower the threshold for invasive monitoring. The provision of effective analgesia perioperatively should be tailored to minimise the surgical stress response and opiate use. Careful consideration of general principles of intra-operative care for older patients, such as positioning, drug dosing, avoidance of excessively deep anaesthesia, and maintenance of normothermia are also important given the prolonged, complex nature of liver surgery. This individualised approach, with careful attention to changes in physiology allows liver resections to be undertaken in older patients without increases in mortality.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Oesophagogastric Surgery: a Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) can objectively measure fitness and oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold. The relationship between fitness and postoperative outcomes after upper gastro-intestinal surgery is unclear. The aim of the present review is to assess the prognostic ability of CPX in predicting postoperative outcome associated with oesophagogastric surgery.

METHODS

Relevant studies were identified through a systematic search of EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to July 2019. The eligibility criteria for studies included prognostic studies of upper gastro-intestinal surgery among adult populations using a preoperative CPX and measurement of postoperative outcome (mortality or morbidity or length of stay). Risk of bias was assessed using the QUIPS Quality in Prognostic Studies validated tool.

RESULTS

Thirteen papers with a total of 1735 participants were included in data extraction. A total of 7 studies examined the association between CPX variables and postoperative mortality. Patients undergoing gastro-intestinal surgery with lower anaerobic threshold values were found to have an increased risk of postoperative mortality. Similarly, a lower rate of oxygen consumption was found to be associated with higher mortality. There was conflicting evidence regarding the association between CPX variables and postoperative morbidity. The evidence did not demonstrate any association between preoperative CPX variables and hospital length of stay.

CONCLUSION

Studies report an association between CPX variables and postoperative mortality; however, there is conflicting evidence regarding the association between CPX variables and postoperative morbidity.

Physiological performance and inflammatory markers as indicators of complications after oesophageal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

The extent to which physiological factors influence outcome following oesophageal cancer surgery is poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which cardiorespiratory fitness and selected metabolic factors predicted complications after surgery for carcinoma.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-five consecutive patients underwent preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing to determine peak oxygen uptake ( V ˙ o_2peak ), anaerobic threshold and the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide ( V ˙ e/ V ˙ co₂ ). Cephalic venous blood was assayed for serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin levels, and a full blood count was done. The primary outcome measure was the Morbidity Severity Score (MSS).

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety-eight patients had anatomical resection. A high MSS (Clavien-Dindo grade III or above) was found in 48 patients (24·2 per cent) and was related to an increased CRP concentration (area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) 0·62, P = 0·001) and lower V ˙ o_2peak (AUC 0·36, P = 0·003). Dichotomization of CRP levels (above 10 mg/l) and V ˙ o_2peak (below 18·6 ml per kg per min) yielded adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for a high MSS of 2·86 (P = 0·025) and 2·92 (P = 0·002) respectively. Compared with a cohort with a low Combined Inflammatory and Physiology Score (CIPS), the OR was 1·70 (95 per cent c.i. 0·85 to 3·39) for intermediate and 27·47 (3·12 to 241·69) for high CIPS (P < 0·001).

CONCLUSION

CRP and V ˙ o_2peak were independently associated with major complications after potentially curative oesophagectomy for cancer. A composite risk score identified a group of patients with a high risk of developing complications.

Preoperative six-minute walk distance as a predictor of postoperative complication in patients with esophageal cancer

Surgery for esophageal cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Reduced pulmonary functions and exercise capacity are known as risk factors for complications after esophagectomy. The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) measured by the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple field test that can be used to evaluate the functional exercise capacity of patients who undergo thoracic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the preoperative 6MWD with postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer. Records of a total of 111 patients who underwent thoracic surgery followed by postoperative rehabilitation from January 2013 to December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Data of patients who experienced Clavien-Dindo grade II or severer (grade ≥ II) complications were compared with those who experienced grade ≤I complications. The 6MWD was significantly correlated with age, serum albumin concentration, hemoglobin concentration, and hand grip strength. A total of 42 patients experienced grade ≥II. The 6MWD of patients with grade ≥ II complications was significantly shorter than that of those with grade ≤I complications. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, 6MWD ≤ 454 m was a threshold for predicting grade ≥II complications with 71.0% sensitivity and 54.8% specificity. The incidence of grade ≥II complications led to delayed ambulation and longer stays in hospital. In the multiple regression analysis, the preoperative risk factors for incidence of grade ≥II complications included lower levels of preoperative 6MWD and % of the predicted value of forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Our results indicate that the 6MWT is useful to assess preoperative physical status in patients with esophageal cancer.

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol to promote recovery following esophageal cancer resection

Esophageal cancer surgery, comprising esophagectomy with radical lymphadenectomy, is a complex procedure associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol which aims to improve perioperative care, minimize complications, and accelerate recovery is showing promise for achieving better perioperative outcomes. ERAS is a multimodal approach that has been reported to shorten the length of hospital stay, reduce surgical stress response, decrease morbidity, and expedite recovery. While ERAS components straddle preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods, they need to be seen in continuum and not as isolated elements. In this review, we elaborate on the components of an ERAS protocol after esophagectomy including preoperative nutrition, prehabilitation, counselling, smoking and alcohol cessation, cardiopulmonary evaluation, surgical technique, anaesthetic management, intra- and postoperative fluid management and pain relief, mobilization and physiotherapy, enteral and oral feeding, removal of drains, and several other components. We also share our own institutional protocol for ERAS following esophageal resections.

Cardiopulmonary fitness predicts postoperative major morbidity after esophagectomy for patients with cancer

Surgery for radical treatment of esophageal cancer (EC) carries significant inherent risk. The objective identification of patients who are at high risk of complications is of importance. In this study the prognostic value of cardiopulmonary fitness variables (CPF) derived from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was assessed in patients undergoing potentially curative surgery for EC within an enhanced recovery program. OC patients underwent preoperative CPET using automated breath-by-breath respiratory gas analysis, with measurements taken during a ramped exercise test on a bicycle. The prognostic value of V ˙ O 2 Peak , Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VE/VCO2 derived from CPET were studied in relation to post-operative morbidity, which was collected prospectively, and overall survival. Consecutive 120 patients were included for analysis (median age 65 years, 100 male, 75 neoadjuvant therapy). Median AT in the cohort developing major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo classification >2) was 10.4 mL/kg/min compared with 11.3 mL/kg/min with no major morbidity (P = 0.048). Median V ˙ O 2 Peak in the cohort developing major morbidity was 17.0 mL/kg/min compared with 18.7 mL/kg/min in the cohort (P = 0.009). V ˙ O 2 Peak optimum cut-off was 17.0 mL/kg/min (sensitivity 70%, specificity 53%) and for AT was 10.5 mL/kg/min (sensitivity 60%, specificity 44%). Multivariable analysis revealed V ˙ O 2 Peak to be the only independent factor to predict major morbidity (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75-0.97, P = 0.018). Cumulative survival was associated with operative morbidity severity (χ2  = 4.892, df = 1, P = 0.027). These results indicate that V ˙ O 2 Peak as derived from CPET is a significant predictor of major morbidity after oesophagectomy highlighting the physiological importance of cardiopulmonary fitness.

[Preconditioning prior to visceral oncological surgery : A paradigm shift in visceral surgery?]

BACKGROUND

Postoperative complications after complex visceral oncological surgery can lead to substantial impairment of patients. In addition, preoperative physical performance and the severity of postoperative complications determine the long-term recovery process of physical function. Therefore, preconditioning in the preoperative period should be an important part of the preoperative/neoadjuvant treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article is a critical appraisal of current concepts of prehabilitation as well as their development potential and applicability in visceral surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Based on a selective literature review, current studies and implemented concepts are presented and therapy algorithms are provided.

RESULTS

This study differs in primary outcome, design and temporal framework of the intervention. The study results showed positive effects of an active increase in physical fitness in the preoperative period with respect to the quality of life, convalescence and postoperative pulmonary complication rate.

DISCUSSION

In addition to the assessment of the individual risk of complications by means of spiroergometry, a targeted nutrition and exercise program can increase the individual performance level prior to visceral surgery and, thus, influence the postoperative risk of complications. The performance should be understood as a modifiable risk factor, which can also be positively influenced in the preoperative phase, even in a short time period. Individual preoperative care optimizes the physical and psychological situation of patients. To ensure the required individual care, approaches must be created and pursued, which can be implemented in a decentralized way.

Poor performance in incremental shuttle walk and cardiopulmonary exercise testing predicts poor overall survival for patients undergoing esophago-gastric resection

INTRODUCTION

Esophageal and gastric cancer have a poor prognosis and surgical intervention is associated with considerable morbidity, highlighting the need for careful preoperative assessment. The Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT) and Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can assess preoperative fitness. This study aims to investigate their correlation with both postoperative respiratory complications and overall survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were identified who underwent esophageal or gastric resections for cancer between 2010 and 2014 and had ISWT and/or CPET assessments. Tumor differentiation, stage, postoperative respiratory complications, and outcome were documented and then correlated with the results of the preoperative fitness assessments.

RESULTS

Neither the ISWT result, anaerobic threshold (AT) nor VO2 Max correlated well with perioperative complications. However, ISWT (p < 0.001), AT (p < 0.001) and VO2 Max (p < 0.001) all correlated strongly with overall survival. No patient with a score of less than 350 m on ISWT survived beyond 3 years. In a subset of patients with ISWT results both pre and post chemotherapy (n = 49), those that had an improvement in result had a 19% incidence of post-operative respiratory complications compared to 45% where the result did not change or declined, though due to small numbers this only approached significance (p = 0.08).

CONCLUSION

ISWT and CPET can be useful preoperative tools to predict overall survival for patients undergoing esophago-gastric resection. Furthermore, patients that improve their functional status during chemotherapy seem to do better than those where it remains static or declines.

Home-based exercise therapy in patients awaiting liver transplantation: protocol for an observational feasibility trial

INTRODUCTION

Liver disease is the third most common cause of premature mortality in the UK. Liver failure accelerates frailty, resulting in skeletal muscle atrophy, functional decline and an associated risk of liver transplant waiting list mortality. However, there is limited research investigating the impact of exercise on patient outcomes pre and post liver transplantation. The waitlist period for patients listed for liver transplantation provides a unique opportunity to provide and assess interventions such as prehabilitation.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is a phase I observational study evaluating the feasibility of conducting a randomised control trial (RCT) investigating the use of a home-based exercise programme (HBEP) in the management of patients awaiting liver transplantation. Twenty eligible patients will be randomly selected from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Birmingham liver transplant waiting list. Participants will be provided with an individually tailored 12-week HBEP, including step targets and resistance exercises. Activity trackers and patient diaries will be provided to support data collection. For the initial 6 weeks, telephone support will be given to discuss compliance with the study intervention, achievement of weekly targets, and to address any queries or concerns regarding the intervention. During weeks 6-12, participants will continue the intervention without telephone support to evaluate longer term adherence to the study intervention. On completing the intervention, all participants will be invited to engage in a focus group to discuss their experiences and the feasibility of an RCT.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The protocol is approved by the National Research Ethics Service Committee North West - Greater Manchester East and Health Research Authority (REC reference: 17/NW/0120). Recruitment into the study started in April 2017 and ended in July 2017. Follow-up of participants is ongoing and due to finish by the end of 2017. The findings of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and international presentations. In addition, the protocol will be placed on the British Liver Trust website for public access.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02949505; Pre-results.

The physiotherapist and the esophageal cancer patient: from prehabilitation to rehabilitation

Esophageal cancer is a serious malignancy often treated with multimodal interventions and complex surgical resection. As treatment moves to centers of excellence with emphasis on enhanced recovery approaches, the role of the physiotherapist has expanded. The aim of this review is to discuss the rationale behind both the evolving prehabilitative role of the physiotherapist and more established postoperative interventions for patients with esophageal cancer. While a weak association between preoperative cardiopulmonary fitness and post-esophagectomy outcome is reported, cardiotoxicity during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may heighten postoperative risk. Preliminary studies suggest that prehabilitative inspiratory muscle training may improve postoperative outcome. Weight and muscle loss are a recognized sequelae of esophageal cancer and the functional consequences of this should be assessed. Postoperative physiotherapy priorities include effective airway clearance and early mobilization. The benefits of respiratory physiotherapy post-esophagectomy are described by a small number of studies, however, practice increasingly recognizes the importance of early mobilization as a key component of postoperative recovery. The benefits of exercise training in patients with contraindications to mobilization remain to be explored. While there is a strong basis for tailored physiotherapy interventions in the management of patients with esophageal cancer, this review highlights the need for studies to inform prehabilitative and postoperative interventions.

The utility of preoperative six-minute-walk distance in lung transplantation

RATIONALE

The use of 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD) as an indicator of exercise capacity to predict postoperative survival in lung transplantation has not previously been well studied.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association between 6MWD and postoperative survival following lung transplantation.

METHODS

Adult, first time, lung-only transplantations per the United Network for Organ Sharing database from May 2005 to December 2011 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to determine the association between preoperative 6MWD and post-transplant survival after adjusting for potential confounders. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the 6MWD value that provided maximal separation in 1-year mortality. A subanalysis was performed to assess the association between 6MWD and post-transplant survival by disease category.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A total of 9,526 patients were included for analysis. The median 6MWD was 787 ft (25th-75th percentiles = 450-1,082 ft). Increasing 6MWD was associated with significantly lower overall hazard of death (P < 0.001). Continuous increase in walk distance through 1,200-1,400 ft conferred an incremental survival advantage. Although 6MWD strongly correlated with survival, the impact of a single dichotomous value to predict outcomes was limited. All disease categories demonstrated significantly longer survival with increasing 6MWD (P ≤ 0.009) except pulmonary vascular disease (P = 0.74); however, the low volume in this category (n = 312; 3.3%) may limit the ability to detect an association.

CONCLUSIONS

6MWD is significantly associated with post-transplant survival and is best incorporated into transplant evaluations on a continuous basis given limited ability of a single, dichotomous value to predict outcomes.

Reference Equation for the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test in Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To determine a prediction equation for distance walked of incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) and test its reliability in children and adolescents.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study, which included 108 healthy volunteers between 6 and 18 years old. Those who had an abnormal spirometry or had a history of chronic disease were excluded. Two ISWT were performed. Heart rate and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) were continuously measured during the test. Dyspnea and lower limb fatigue were assessed by Borg scale before and after the tests.

RESULTS

Boys walked longer distances compared with girls (1066.4 ± 254.1 m vs 889.7 ± 159.6 m, respectively, P < .0001). Except for dyspnea, there were no significant differences in the other outcomes measured (heart rate, lower limb fatigue, SpO2, and distance walked) at the peak of the two ISWT. The variables included in the predicted equation were age, body mass index, and sex. The predicted equation is: ISWTpred = 845.559 + (sex * 193.265) + (age * 47.850) - (body mass index * 26.179). The distance walked had an excellent reliability between the two ISWT, 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-0.99). The Bland-Altman plot shows agreement between tests (range from -40 to 45 m).

CONCLUSIONS

We established a prediction equation for ISWT. It can be used as a reference to evaluate exercise capacity for children and adolescents. ISWT has excellent repeatability and it is a maximal-effort field test for this age group.

Anesthesia for esophagectomy

Esophagectomy is a high-risk operation with significant perioperative morbidity and mortality. Attention to detail in many areas of perioperative management should lead to an aggregation of marginal gains and improvement in postoperative outcome. This review addresses preoperative assessment and patient selection, perioperative care (focusing on pulmonary prehabilitation, ventilation strategies, goal-directed fluid therapy, analgesia, and cardiovascular complications), minimally invasive surgery, and current evidence for enhanced recovery in esophagectomy.

Cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and preoperative markers of inflammation

Explanatory mechanisms for the association between poor exercise capacity and infections following surgery are underexplored. We hypothesized that aerobic fitness—assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)—would be associated with circulating inflammatory markers, as quantified by the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte subsets. The association between cardiopulmonary reserve and inflammation was tested by multivariable regression analysis with covariates including anaerobic threshold (AT) and malignancy. In a first cohort of 240 colorectal patients, AT was identified as the sole factor associated with higher NLR (P = 0.03) and absolute and relative lymphopenia (P = 0.01). Preoperative leukocyte subsets and monocyte CD14⁺ expression (downregulated by endotoxin and indicative of chronic inflammation) were also assessed in two further cohorts of age-matched elective gastrointestinal and orthopaedic surgical patients. Monocyte CD14⁺ expression was lower in gastrointestinal patients (n = 43) compared to age-matched orthopaedic patients (n = 31). The circulating CD14⁺CD16⁻ monocyte subset was reduced in patients with low cardiopulmonary reserve. Poor exercise capacity in patients without a diagnosis of heart failure is independently associated with markers of inflammation. These observations suggest that preoperative inflammation associated with impaired cardiorespiratory performance may contribute to the pathophysiology of postoperative outcome.

Cardiopulmonary exercise variables are associated with postoperative morbidity after major colonic surgery: a prospective blinded observational study

BACKGROUND

Postoperative complications are associated with reduced fitness. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has been used in risk stratification. We investigated the relationship between preoperative CPET and in-hospital morbidity in major colonic surgery.

METHODS

We prospectively studied 198 patients undergoing major colonic surgery (excluding neoadjuvant cancer therapy), performing preoperative CPET (reported blind to clinical state), and recording morbidity (assessed blind to CPET), postoperative outcome, and length of stay.

RESULTS

Of 198 patients, 62 were excluded: 11 had emergency surgery, 25 had no surgery, 23 had incomplete data, and three were unable to perform CPET. One hundred and thirty-six (89 males, 47 females) were available for analysis. The median age was 71 [inter-quartile range (IQR) 62-77] yr. Sixty-five patients (48%) had a complication at day 5 after operation. Measurements significantly lower in patients with complications than those without were O2 uptake (VO₂) at estimated lactate threshold (θ(L)) [median 9.9 (IQR 8.3-12.7) vs 11.2 (9.5-14.2) ml kg(-1) min(-1), P<0.01], VO₂ at peak [15.2 (12.6-18.1) vs 17.2 (13.7-22.5) ml kg(-1) min(-1), P=0.01], and ventilatory equivalent for CO2 (V(E)/VCO₂) at θ(L) [31.3 (28.0-34.8) vs 33.9 (30.0-39.1), P<0.01]. A final multivariable logistic regression model contained VO₂ at θ(L) {one-point change odds ratio (OR) 0.77 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-0.89], P<0.0005; two-point change OR 0.61 (0.46-0.81) and gender [OR 4.42 (1.78-9.88), P=0.001]}, and was reasonably able to discriminate those with and without complications (AUC 0.71, CI 0.62-0.80, 68% sensitivity, 65% specificity).

CONCLUSIONS

CPET variables are associated with postoperative morbidity. A multivariable model with VO₂ at θ(L) and gender discriminates those with complications after colonic surgery.

Impact of age and co-morbidity on surgical resection rate and survival in patients with oesophageal and gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Major surgery for cancer has become safer, including for elderly patients with co-morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between patient characteristics, resection rates and survival among patients with oesophageal or gastric cancer.

METHODS

The prospective Dutch population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry for oesophagogastric cancers diagnosed between 1995 and 2009 was studied retrospectively for patient characteristics including co-morbidity. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the likelihood of resection in patients with tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage I-III lesions. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for survival.

RESULTS

The database contained information on 923 patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 1181 with distal oesophageal, 942 with cardia and 3177 with subcardia cancer. Of patients with TNM stage I-III disease, 20·8 per cent (557 of 2680 patients) did not undergo resection. Age 70 years or above was associated with a lower likelihood of resection for distal oesophageal (odds ratio (OR) 0·24, 95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 0·14 to 0·41) and gastric (cardia: OR 0·41, 0·22 to 0·76; subcardia: OR 0·68, 0·48 to 0·97) cancer. The 30-day mortality rate increased with age (4·7 per cent in patients aged less than 70 years versus 11·9 per cent in those aged 70 years or more; P < 0·001) and co-morbidity (no co-morbidity, 3·6 per cent; 1 co-morbidity, 8·6 per cent; 2 or more co-morbidities, 11·2 per cent; P = 0·015). Surgery (compared with no surgery) was independently associated with better survival for all tumour types. After adjustment for treatment differences, age 70 years or above and presence of two or more co-morbidities were independently associated with poorer survival, especially in patients with subcardia carcinoma (age 70 years or more: HR 1·27, 95 per cent c.i. 1·17 to 1·48; co-morbidity: HR 1·33, 1·21 to 1·62).

CONCLUSION

Surgical compared with non-surgical treatment of oesophagogastric cancer was associated with better survival, but postoperative mortality was increased in patients of advanced age and with greater co-morbidity.

Preoperative 6-min walking distance does not predict pulmonary complications in upper abdominal surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Field exercise tests have been increasingly used for pulmonary risk assessment. The 6-min walking distance (6MWD) is a field test commonly employed in clinical practice; however, there is limited evidence supporting its use as a risk assessment method in abdominal surgery. The aim was to assess if the 6MWD can predict the development of post-operative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients having upper abdominal surgery (UAS).

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 137 consecutive subjects undergoing elective UAS. Subjects performed the 6MWD on the day prior to surgery, and their performance were compared with predicted values of 6MWD (p6MWD) using a previously validated formula. PPCs (including pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, atelectasis with clinical repercussions, bronchospasm and acute respiratory failure) were assessed daily by a pulmonologist blinded to the 6MWD results. 6MWD and p6MWD were compared between subjects who developed PPC (PPC group) and those who did not (no PPC group) using Student's t-test.

RESULTS

Ten subjects experienced PPC (7.2%) and no significant difference was observed between the 6MWD obtained in the PPC group and no PPC group (466.0 ± 97.0 m vs. 485.3 ± 107.1 m; P = 0.57, respectively). There was also no significant difference observed between groups for the p6MWD (100.7 ± 29.1% vs. 90.6 ± 20.9%; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study suggest that the 6-min walking test is not a useful tool to identify subjects with increased risk of developing PPC following UAS.

Perioperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the elderly

The elderly constitute an increasingly large segment of the population and of the patients requiring medical attention. Major surgery is associated with a substantial burden of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Advancing age is a particular risk factor for these outcomes. This article reviews the current literature on the value and practical applications of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) as a tool to evaluate risk and thereby improve the management of the elderly patient undergoing major surgery. There is a consistent association between CPET-derived variables and outcome following major surgery. Furthermore, CPET-derived variables have utility in perioperative risk prediction and identification of patients at high risk of adverse outcome following major surgery. This optimal predictor appears to differ between various surgery types and the incremental benefit of combining CPET with alternative methods of perioperative risk prediction remains poorly defined.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: a review of methods and applications in surgical patients

Cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) testing has a number of medical applications, including the assessment of heart failure and the investigation of unexplained breathlessness. Over the past decade, it has become an important preoperative assessment tool to evaluate functional capacity and predict outcomes in patients undergoing both cardiac and noncardiac surgery. A CPX test is an incremental exercise test during which respiratory variables, including oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide excretion are measured and the ECG is monitored. Among the variables reported from a CPX test are oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen uptake. A limited functional capacity as indicated by a low anaerobic threshold or VO(2peak) has been shown to be associated with an increased incidence of perioperative complications in a number of surgical settings. Other reported variables, including the ventilatory equivalents for oxygen (VE/VO(2)) and carbon dioxide (VE/VCO(2)) and the millilitre of oxygen delivered per heartbeat or oxygen pulse [VO(2)/heart rate (HR)] may give indications as to the reasons for exercise limitation. ECG evidence of myocardial ischaemia with increasing workload is also an important indicator of increased perioperative risk. As a noninvasive, low-risk, test of the integrated responses to increasing cardiovascular stress, anaesthesiologists involved in preoperative assessment should have an understanding of its current uses and test outcomes. This review presents the physiological basis for CPX testing, methodology, advantages over other preoperative tests of cardiovascular function and guidance on the interpretation of CPX results in the perioperative setting.

Assessment of physical fitness for esophageal surgery, and targeting interventions to optimize outcomes

This review examines how higher levels of physiological reserve and fitness can help the patient endure the demands of esophageal surgery. Lung function, body composition, cardiac function, inflammatory mediators and exercise performance are all determinants of fitness. Physical fitness, both as an independent risk factor and through its effect on other risk factors, has been found to be significantly associated with the risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients following esophagectomy. Respiratory dysfunction preoperatively poses the dominant risk of developing complications, and PPCs are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. The incidence of PPCs is between 15 and 40% with an associated 4.5-fold increase in operative mortality leading to approximately 45% of all deaths post-esophagectomy. Cardiac complications are the other principal postoperative complications, and pulmonary and cardiac complications are reported to account for up to 70% of postoperative deaths after esophagectomy. Risk reduction in patients planned for surgery is key in attaining optimal outcomes. The goal of this review was to discuss the risk factors associated with the development of postoperative pulmonary complications and how these may be modified prior to surgery with a specific focus on the pulmonary complications associated with esophageal resection. There are few studies that have examined the effect of modifying physical fitness pre-esophageal surgery. The data to date would indicate a need to develop targeted interventions preoperatively to increase physical function with the aim of decreasing postoperative complications.

Impaired functional capacity is associated with all-cause mortality after major elective intra-abdominal surgery

BACKGROUND

Studies of preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) have shown that a reduced oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (AT) and elevated ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (VE/VCO(2)) were associated with reduced short- and medium-term survival after major surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the relative values of these, and also clinical risk factors, in identifying patients at risk of death after major intra-abdominal, non-vascular surgery.

METHODS

Patients aged >55 yr, undergoing elective colorectal resection, radical nephrectomy, or cystectomy between June 2004 and May 2009 had CPET during their routine pre-assessment clinic visit. We performed a retrospective analysis of known clinical risk factors and data from CPET to assess their relationship to all-cause mortality after surgery.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and forty-seven patients underwent surgery, of whom 18 (2.1%) died. A clinical history of ischaemic heart disease (RR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3-7.7), a VE/VCO(2) >34 (RR 4.6, 95% CI 1.4-14.8), and an AT < or =10.9 ml kg(-1) min(-1) (RR 6.8, 95% CI 1.6-29.5) were all significant predictors of all-cause hospital and 90 day mortality. The effect of reduced AT was most pronounced in patients with no history of cardiac risk factors (RR 10.0, 95% CI 1.7-61.0).

CONCLUSIONS

The routine measurement of AT and VE/VCO(2) using CPET for patients undergoing high-risk surgery can accurately identify the majority of high-risk patients, while the use of clinical risk factors alone will only identify a relatively small proportion of at-risk patients.

Physical activity and gastrointestinal cancer survivorship

Research examining physical activity in gastrointestinal cancer survivors is in its early stages and has focused primarily on colorectal cancer. Moreover, the majority of the research to date has been observational in nature, with very little interventional research. Though limited, the results of this research have been promising in nature, showing positive associations between physical activity and quality of life as well as disease outcomes, including improved disease-free and overall survival. The potential benefits of physical activity for gastrointestinal cancer survivors warrant further research on the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between physical activity and colorectal cancer disease outcomes, to determine if these associations extend to other gastrointestinal cancers, and to determine appropriate physical activity interventions to realize any potential supportive care benefits in various gastrointestinal cancer survivor groups.

Patient-related risk factors for postoperative adverse events

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The risk of adverse outcome in patients undergoing major surgery is affected both by cardiorespiratory fitness, and the presence and severity of comorbidities. Accurate risk stratification is essential for the identification of patients who may benefit from specific perioperative management strategies or from an augmented level of perioperative care. Risk stratification techniques include risk prediction models, assessment of functional capacity and novel biochemical markers. This review examines the evidence for the use of these different techniques in perioperative patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

There remains considerable variation in the predictive ability of risk stratification models, in part due to the subjective nature of some of the component variables. Whereas a basic assessment of functional capacity using structured questionnaires may be helpful, in patients thought to be at high risk, the most accurate technique may be cardiopulmonary exercise testing, although the strength of the hypothesized relationship between functional capacity and perioperative outcome has not been fully defined. There have been advances in the identification and refinement of biochemical markers for risk prediction, in particular, brain natriuretic peptide and C-reactive protein. Currently, few centres routinely systematically utilize these strategies to risk stratify perioperative patients.

SUMMARY

The development of improved risk stratification techniques would be assisted by large-scale epidemiological studies. Improvements to currently used risk prediction models are likely to result from the use of variables which more objectively measure patient health and fitness than current tools, and may use a combination of all the above techniques to improve predictive accuracy.